Magnetic Dry Erase Board Hey everyone! If you’ve ever ordered a magnet gift from my shop, you’ve probably gotten a little “pro tip” slip tucked in the package before—something like “keep away from phones and pacemakers” that made you do a double-take. I’ve had customers DM me asking all kinds of random questions lately: “If I set this fridge magnet next to my speaker, will it ruin both?” “My kid dropped the magnetic toy on the floor; is it still good?” “Can I put this magnet in my junk drawer with my screwdrivers?” So I figured, let’s break this down, straight from someone who spends 40 hours a week shipping these things out, testing them, and answering way too many late-night questions about fridge decor and fridge magnets (yes, the two are very different, but we’ll get to that). First off, let’s get one myth out of the way: not all magnets are created equal. You know that, right? Because I’ve shipped a tiny $1 car-shaped fridge magnet that’s basically a cheap plastic disc glued to a weak rubber magnet, and a big heavy neodymium disc that I had to wrap three times in bubble mailer because it almost pulled the metal shelf right out of a warehouse pallet. So when people ask “do magnet gifts need special care?” my first answer is… it depends. Let’s start with the basics, because I’ve had customers mix up fridge magnets, decorative magnets, and those strong “rare earth” magnets that sometimes come in kids’ craft kits (pro tip: keep those away from toddlers, but that’s a whole other post). The majority of our magnet gifts—think custom photo fridge magnets, those cute vintage travel-style ones, the holiday-themed decorative magnets people stock up on—are made with flexible rubber (ferrite, if we’re being nerdy) magnets. These have a relatively low magnetic strength, like, way weaker than a standard fridge magnet that’s been around for 10 years. We test every batch before we ship, and even the strongest of our rubber magnets max out at a pull force that’s enough to hold 2-3 pieces of paper on a fridge, no problem. So for these? The “special care” is basically just don’t put them in a microwave. Wait, hold on—yes, I’ve had a customer try that. Don’t microwave any magnet, even the weak ones, because metal + microwave = spark city, and no one wants their kitchen to turn into a bad TikTok fail. Beyond that, these rubber fridge magnets are pretty tough. I’ve had a customer tell me they left theirs in the car door for a whole summer in Texas heat, and it’s still sticking. I always say, don’t leave them in extreme heat for months on end if you can help it—same as you wouldn’t leave a photo card or a coffee mug in the car. The glue holding the magnet to the top (usually plastic, metal, or wood) can get a little melty if it’s in 120-degree weather for weeks, but that’s more about the decor part than the magnet part itself. Now, the other category: neodymium magnets. These are the “rare earth” ones, the heavy-duty ones that we only sell for specific gifts—like those strong magnetic bottle openers, the magnetic tool holders for garage gifts, or the bigger decorative pieces that need to hold something heavier than a grocery list. These are the ones people actually do need to be careful with, and I make sure to label every single one of these with a big warning sticker when they ship. Let’s talk about why. Neodymium magnets are way stronger than your average fridge magnet—some of the bigger ones we sell have a pull force of 20+ pounds. That’s not just random strong; that’s strong enough to pinch your finger so hard it bleeds, or to crack a metal surface if it slams into it. So for these, special care is non-negotiable, not just a “pro tip.” First: keep them away from things that have sensitive electronics or data. I’ve had a customer call me panicking because they put a neodymium magnetic bottle opener on the side of their laptop, and now their touchpad is acting up. What happened? The magnet’s field messed with the laptop’s hard drive (if it’s an older model) or the internal sensors. Same goes for phones: if you stick a strong neodymium magnet to the back of an old iPhone, it might mess with the compass. Newer iPhones and Android have better shielding, but I still warn customers to keep these magnets at least an inch away from any phone or tablet, just in case. And pacemakers? This is a big one. The FDA actually warns that strong magnets can interfere with pacemaker function, so I make sure every single one of our neodymium gifts has a clear “keep away from medical devices” warning on the packaging. I once shipped a set of custom magnetic bookmarks that had small neodymium discs, and a customer wrote back saying their elderly mom has a pacemaker, so they just kept them in a drawer instead of using them. That’s smart, y’all—better safe than sorry. Another thing about neodymium magnets: they can scratch metal surfaces. I had a guy order a magnetic tool holder for his workbench, and a week later he texted me a photo of a scratch on his stainless steel workbench, saying the magnet slid when he hung a heavy wrench. My bad, I should’ve included a note about that—so now I do. For gifts that go on metal, I mention in the product description to make sure the surface is clean, and if you’re hanging anything heavy, make sure the magnet is centered so it doesn’t slide. Also, never let two strong neodymium magnets slam into each other—they can chip, crack, or even fly across a room if you’re not paying attention. I’ve seen a test where two big neodymium magnets hit each other hard enough to break a coffee mug in between them, so yeah, that’s not something to mess around with. Now, let’s talk about the stuff that surprises people. What about magnets and other household metal? Like, can you stick a fridge magnet next to your silverware? No, not the strong ones. If you have a neodymium magnet, it can leave a faint mark on silver, or pull tiny bits of metal from steel silverware (like the little specks that get stuck in the metal over time). For rubber fridge magnets? I’ve never heard of that happening, so they’re fine. What about the magnets people use for crafts? Wait, if you’re buying a magnet gift that’s for a kid, that’s another layer of care. I know we get a lot of customers buying magnet sets as birthday gifts, and I always include a warning for parents that small neodymium magnets are a choking hazard. Even if they’re attached to a toy, if a kid pulls them off and swallows two, they can stick together in the intestines and cause serious damage. So that’s a big one—if you’re gifting magnets to a kid, make sure they’re at least age 8, depending on the size, and keep an eye on them. I’ve had a parent tell me their 5-year-old tried to eat a small magnet from another brand’s gift, so I upped my packaging game to have extra strong adhesive on all kid-focused magnet gifts. Now, what about common mistakes people make that damage magnets (or their gifts)? One of the biggest I see is cleaning magnets the wrong way. A lot of people think they can scrub their fridge magnets with steel wool or harsh chemicals, especially if they have coffee stains or food gunk on them. No, don’t do that. For rubber magnets, a quick wipe with a damp paper towel and mild soap is all you need—scrubbing can scratch the plastic or wood surface, or even peel the magnet off the base. For neodymium magnets, if you need to clean them, use a soft cloth and soapy water too—harsh chemicals can damage the metal coating, which makes them rust. And if your neodymium magnet does get rusty, don’t worry, that’s fixable (a little baking soda and water to scrub it off), but better to avoid it in the first place. Another mistake: storing magnets with other metal tools or craft supplies. If you have a box of magnets for your home projects, keep them in a fabric bag or a plastic container with a soft divider, not just loose in a drawer with screwdrivers and scissors. That way, the strong magnets won’t scratch your tools, and they won’t lose their pull by sticking to other metal objects 24/7. Wait, do magnets lose their strength over time? Yeah, eventually, but not for a long time—unless you’re doing something crazy like heating them to super high temperatures (like throwing a rubber magnet in the campfire, which will melt it and kill its magnetic field) or hitting them with a hammer hard enough to knock the domains out of alignment. For normal use, a good quality magnet from our shop will still be strong 10 years later, no problem. I tested a batch of our vintage-style fridge magnets that I made in 2018, and they all still hold 3 sheets of paper, same as the day I made them. So that’s good news—most of the “special care” is just common sense, not something you have to overcomplicate. Let’s wrap this up, because I know I rambled a little. The short answer: do magnet gifts need special care? Most of the time, only basic care—unless they’re strong neodymium rare earth magnets, which do need a little extra attention to keep them safe and working right. Here’s the quick cheat sheet I give every customer: 1. For cheap or standard rubber fridge magnets: Wipe gently, don’t microwave, don’t leave in extreme heat for months, they’re pretty indestructible. 2. For neodymium strong magnets: Keep away from phones, laptops, pacemakers, and medical devices; don’t let them slam into metal or each other; keep away from small kids as a choking hazard. 3. For all magnet gifts: Don’t scrub with harsh abrasives, store them away from loose metal when not in use. I’ve been selling magnet gifts for almost 6 years now, and the number one complaint I get is “my magnet stopped sticking” 6 months after purchase. Nine times out of 10, it’s because they left it in the sun all summer, or slammed two neodymium magnets together, or let a kid pull the magnetic disc off the base and lose it. Those are all avoidable with a tiny bit of care, right? If you’re curious about a specific magnet gift you have (or are thinking of buying), shoot me a message— I answer every DM within 24 hours, no matter how random the question is. We’re actually updating our product pages next week to add little care guides for each type of magnet, so you won’t have to dig through this blog post next time you order a custom magnet for a wedding or a housewarming. If you’re shopping for magnet gifts for a birthday, holiday, or just because, we’ve got new designs coming next month—custom pet photo magnets, retro movie theater ones, even magnet sets for pet owners. If you have a specific design or need, hit me up and we can work on something together. No hidden fees, no weird fine print, just solid magnets and good customer service. That’s it for today—next time I’ll be talking about the time I accidentally shipped a magnet gift to a customer who lives on a boat (turns out, the constant salt air can rust magnets faster, so that’s a whole other set of tips). For now, go check your fridge—make sure those magnets aren’t covering up a pacemaker or sitting on a laptop, and if they are, move them. Thanks for reading, and keep sticking those magnets (responsibly). References: 1. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (2022). Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Safety: General Information. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). (2021). Properties and Applications of Permanent Magnets. U.S. Department of Commerce. 3. International Organization for Standardization (ISO). (2019). Safety of Magnets for Consumer Goods. ISO 13142:2019. 4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2020). Choking Hazards from Small Magnets. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Magnet Gift
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